For Immediate Release
Friday, February 16, 2024
NSIC Media Relations
NSIC Elite 18 Award

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Maija Kangas of Augustana University was named the 2023-24 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for women’s swimming & diving.  Kangas was presented the award during the NSIC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship senior recognition ceremony prior to Friday evenings competition.

As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration during the 2016-17 academic year, the NSIC Elite 18 Award was instituted to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the NSIC Championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The NSIC Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NSIC’s 18 Championships.

The NSIC Swimming & Diving Championships are taking place Wed.-Sat. Feb. 14-17 at the Midco Aquatic Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; hosted by the University of Sioux Falls.

Kangas , a native of Excelsior, Minnesota, is an accounting; Spanish major, while holding a 4.0 grade point average. During her freshman campaign she was a part of the NSIC 800 Freestyle Relay Championship team and was named All-NSIC in the 400 IM. She swam a personal best and set the school record in the 200 free at the 2023 NSIC championships with a time of 1:52.19 and swam a personal best in the 400 IM at the NSIC championships with a time of 4:28.96. She was also a member of the team that set the NSIC record in the 800 free relay at the NSIC championships with a time of 7:33.29.

At this year's championship, Kangas was part of the winning 800 freestyle relay squad. The team consisting of Maija Kangas, Anna Tindall, Hein and Amaya Street teamed up to finish in 7:37.21. She also placed seventh in the 1000 yard freestyle in 10:40.07 and ninth in the 400 IM at 4:34.23. 

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a 16-team union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 25 team national championships and crowned 111 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.